Bald eagle rescue slows afternoon commute along Metro tracks

Metro said in a tweet that the eagle, which landed on the tracks around 5 p.m. Wednesday, appears to be injured. (WMATA via Twitter)

An eight-person rescue crew that included animal control officials safely recovered the bird near Morgan Boulevard around 7 p.m., nearly two hours after it was found.

A bald eagle found injured along the tracks of Metro’s Blue and Silver lines was rescued Wednesday evening, a delicate operation that affected train service during the rush hour commute.

An eight-person rescue crew that included animal control officials safely recovered the bird near the Morgan Boulevard station in Landover, Maryland, around 7 p.m., nearly two hours after it was found.

Metro had been single-tracking between Addison Road and Morgan Boulevard. The eagle had landed very close to the third rail, requiring that electricity to the rail be shut down, Metro’s Dan Stessel told WTOP.

After the rescue, Metro restored train traffic. The bird has been turned over to the City Wildlife rehabilitation center.